~Twisted Loyalties~ Matheo Riddle x OC x Theodore Nott

Chapter 2

~Eris POV~

I stood before what looked like a massive, ominous black castle. Glancing over at Matheo, he gave a slight smirk. "Welcome to Malfoy Manor," he said, before stepping ahead to lead the way. The others surrounded me as if acting like some sort of shield, a formation that made it clear I was now part of their group, whether I liked it or not. As we entered, I noticed people in long black cloaks turning to stare at me with curious, almost envious eyes. I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin, determined not to show weakness.

The inside of the manor was a labyrinth of twisting corridors and staircases. It felt like walking through a maze, with every corner more confusing than the last. Finally, Matheo stopped in front of a large door and pushed it open, revealing a room filled with multiple beds, a grand fireplace, and plush couches. Two girls were seated in the center of the room, all of whom jumped up the moment we entered.

One of the girls, with short black hair, immediately rushed over to Blaise and gave him an overly enthusiastic, sloppy kiss. I rolled my eyes internally. Meanwhile, a younger girl ran up to Matheo, throwing her arms around him. He embraced her like he was about to crush her in his grip. An odd sense of jealousy surged through me, which made absolutely no sense. Why did I care? I had just met the guy.

Still, I stood there, dumbfounded as the boys spread out, claiming different beds or lounging on the couches. The black-haired girl detached herself from Blaise and walked over to me with a wide grin.

"I'm so glad we finally have another girl in the group! I mean, I have other friends, but it's different being here." She winked at me before gesturing to a line of three beds along one wall. "I'm Pansy, by the way. That one's mine," she said, pointing to the bed on the far right. "You can take the one in the middle, between me and Lydia." She pointed to a smaller girl, who was lying on the left bed, nose buried in a book.

I glanced around, still trying to process everything. Draco and Theo were lounging on the couches, while Enzo and Blaise had already crashed on their beds. It felt surreal—being here in the infamous Malfoy Manor, surrounded by people I had only heard stories about. And now, I was part of it.

Matheo stood in the center of the room, calling everyone to gather. "Alright, school starts in a month, so we've got what's left of the summer to get Eris ready," he said, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. We all watched him from the couches, the room quiet as we listened. I couldn't help but take in the group: Pansy sat beside Blaise, his hand resting comfortably on her leg, while Lydia was next to her, still absorbed in her book. Theo and Enzo were lounging on the opposite couch, and Draco had seemingly disappeared.

"Excuse me," I spoke up, my voice steady but laced with doubt. "How is a human like me supposed to go to Hogwarts, a school for magic?" The question hung in the air for a moment, and suddenly, I felt another pair of eyes on me. Lydia had looked up from her book, her sharp gaze lingering on me before shifting to Matheo.

Matheo smirked, unbothered by my concern. "With our help, of course. We're going to trick the school into thinking you have magic. Dumbledore's already keeping an eye on us, so it won't be hard to convince him. I'll simply tell him you're with me, and he'll let you in."

Blaise chimed in, leaning forward slightly. "You'll be dorming with Pansy since you're the same year. Plus, you'll have at least one of us in every class to cover for you. As long as your brother stays quiet, everything should go smoothly."

Pansy smiled at me reassuringly, and I nodded, feeling slightly more at ease but still uncertain. "He's going to be shocked... and what if I'm sorted into another house?" I asked, the concern creeping into my voice.

Matheo's smirk widened as he stepped closer, grabbing my chin and tilting my head up until our eyes met. His touch was firm but not painful, his eyes intense as they bore into mine. "Let's hope that doesn't happen, little witch," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

The weight of his words hung in the air, and I felt a shiver run through me. Something told me I was about to be part of something far bigger than just pretending to belong.